2009 World Green Car Winner is the Honda FCX Clarity

At the New York Auto Show this morning, the organizers of the World Car of the Year competition honored four cars that garnered the most votes in their respective categories from an international jury of journalists. While other categories were open to all newly introduced cars, the Green Car of the Year started with a list of 22 significant cars that had been produced in volumes of at least 10 and were in the hands of customers or test fleets. A team of three international experts in the field representing North America, Europe and Asia (including yours truly) examined the list and narrowed it down to five finalists. Among those, the top three vote-getters from the overall jury were the Honda FCX Clarity, Toyota iQ and Mitsubishi iMiEV, with the fuel cell-powered Clarity taking the top prize.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/09/new-york-2009-and-the-world-green-car-of-the-year-is/

Good Info on the Hydrogen FCX at H2O Daily

Honda brings the best hope for the future by introducing the World's First Hydrogen powered Fuel Cell car, the FCX Clarity. Honda says that it plans to produce a total of about 200 Clarity models during the next three years. It projects that it will cost close to $1 million to manufacture each car.

Built on the all-new Honda V-Flow fuel cell platform and powered by a highly compact, powerful, and efficient new Honda V Flow fuel cell stack, the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continues to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of the hydrogen fuel cell car.

This hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle is propelled by an electric motor that runs on electricity generated in the fuel cell. The vehicle's only emission is water, and its fuel efficiency is three times that of a modern gasoline-powered vehicle. The electric motor generates 127 horsepower and it can produce more electricity than needed to power all the gadgetry found in the vehicle.

This new hydrogen car has significant improvements over Honda's previous generation FCX. The powertrain on this next-generation FCX Clarity are listed here:

• Is over 397 pounds lighter
• Has 120% better power-to-weight ratio
• Is 20% more fuel efficient
• Has a powertrain that is 45% more compact and 10% more energy-efficient

This new model has a lower floor and sleeker overall design, integrating the more compact stack with a smaller powertrain. Its thin A-pillars allow better visibility. A flat-bottom underbody reduces aerodynamic drag and increases efficiency.

The FCX Clarity offers the amenities of a luxury sedan including limousine-like cabin volume, a new lighter lithium ion battery pack, electric steering, a climate control system within the seats to minimize energy use, Honda bio-fabric upholstery, rear camera, floating/layered instrument panel, XM satellite radio, thermo-electrically heated and cooled seats, electronic stability control, adaptive cruise control and a navigation system.

Source;
http://www.h2daily.com/index.php/20080921714/Latest/Hydrogen-powered-Fuel-Cell-Car-Introduced-by-Honda.html

Jamie Lee Curtis gets her Honda FCX Hydrogen Car

Following Ron Yerxa and Annette Ballester's delivery of the first Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car, Jamie Lee Curtis and her husband, Christopher Guest, have become the second couple in Southern California to receive their new wheels from Honda. So, what does Curtis think of her newfound Clarity? "I really wasn't expecting it to be so luxurious," said Curtis. "It's luxurious, luxurious, luxurious! I love the interior layout, design and access to controls. It is user-friendly and very modern."

While the case for hydrogen as fuel is a topic full of debate, it would be hard to argue that Honda's most recent fuel cell sedan isn't world's better than its first. Styling wise, for sure, the new Clarity is a huge step forward, as is the electricity-generating fuel cell stack. If you want one, don't get your hopes up. The vehicles are only being leased in Southern Cal and Japan, and there won't be many of them available. The official press release is after the break.

The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle. Significant advances over Honda's previous generation FCX include a 25 percent increase in combined fuel economy to 72 miles/kg-H2* (74 mpg GGE ) and a greater than 30 percent increase in driving range up to 280 miles*. Propelled by an electric motor that runs on electricity generated in the fuel cell, the vehicle's only by-products are heat and water, and its fuel efficiency is three times that of a modern gasoline-powered automobile.

Source;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/08/06/jamie-lee-curtis-receives-her-honda-fcx-clarity/

First U.S.-spec Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicles roll off production line

Honda today announced its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity, started production at the automaker's dedicated fuel cell vehicle factory in Japan. The first five four-seater sedans will be delivered to American VIPs in Southern California in July, with Honda planning on releasing 200 examples Stateside and in Japan over three years. The FCX is the first fuel cell-powered car to be approved for lease in the U.S.

The five California customers include film producer Ron Yerxa, actress and author Jamie Lee Curtis, her film-making husband Christopher Guest, actress Laura Harris and first-gen FCX owner Jon Spallino. The region has three Honda dealers equipped to service the vehicle and three hydrogen filling stations. Honda will study the drivers' driving patterns and the vehicle's performance to learn and improve on the technology in future versions of the car.

The Clarity promises to deliver a 280-mile range and an equivalent gasoline fuel economy of about 74mpg thanks to its lithium ion battery pack that drives an electric motor. Electricity for the battery pack is generated by the fuel cell, with the only by-product being water. Compared to the first-generation car, which was available in Japan only, the new FCX represents a 30 percent increase in range and a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy thanks to a battery pack that is 40 percent smaller and half as heavy.

The FCX's motor is rated at 134 horsepower and 189 lb-ft of torque available instantenously. Customers who wish to lease the FCX will need to meet Honda's requirements (proximity to filling stations and driving habits chief among them) and sign up for a three-year lease at $600 per month.

Source;
http://www.leftlanenews.com/first-us-spec-honda-fcx-clarity-fuel-cell-vehicles-roll-off-production-lines.html

Update on Honda's New Hybrid

Well, looks like the new 'Global Hybrid' (one name around the world) that Honda is developing is going to have a sharp resemblance to the FCX Clarity Hydrogen car above. The car is said to cost less than the current Civic Hybrid and will use an engine based on the Civic's, but smaller and lighter. Honda is going to opt for the Nickel Metal Hydride Battery over the Lithium-Ion due to the proven track record of the Nickel and the high cost of the lithium-ion; however, According to Fukui, the new model is being engineered to allow for a running change to lithium when the batteries do meet the company's specifications.

'2009 Honda FCX Clarity' Revealed

Well, here's the production version of the FCX the hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered car, this will go on sale mid 2008, initially limited to Southern Californians where hydrogen filling stations are available. Apparently it is only going to be leased for 3 yrs for $600US/mth. Honda also is developing a home fueling station that uses a home's existing natural gas supply to produce hydrogen. In a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, hydrogen combines with oxygen in the vehicle's fuel-cell stack, and energy from the reaction is converted into electricity to power the vehicle. The vehicle's only emission is water.

New Honda Hybrid in the Works to Properly Compete with the Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius has pretty much dominated the Hybrid battle, at least as far as numbers are concerned. This is partly due to the fact that the Prius has alot of usable space, especially considering that it is a hatchback. In my neck of the woods, the Prius is the Taxi cab of choice (and who can blame them, great on gas with flexible storage space). The Honda Civic has its battery located between the trunk and rear seat, limiting the trunk space and getting rid of the rear folding seats (the only knock that I can think of on the car)!
Honda has now decided that it is time to give the Prius a little more competition. Honda has big plans for their next Hybrid. The new model will only be available with a hybrid system and is rumored to take its styling cues from the FCX fuel-cell vehicle set for production next year.
See my post on the FCX here;
http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2007/10/2010-honda-fcx.html
My guess is the one up manship begins not only with style but a Clean-Diesel Hybrid Engine!

2010 Honda FCX

Fuel Cells. This is another area that Honda's Research and Development has taken them. Not sure what the price point will be, or if we will even have an opportunity to buy one in Canada, but it sure looks nice.

It features a compact, Honda-developed fuel-cell stack in the middle of the car with two hydrogen tanks in the rear. The stack is actually much smaller than is now technologically feasible, but Honda says that it shows "our dream."